Rugby School Thailand eNewsletter

Matters of Principal

Whole School

Announcements

HOLIDAY CODING CAMPS
Explore our Holiday Coding Camps in collaboration with BSD Online – now open for registration!

From crafting your digital pet to game development, discover engaging activities suitable for ages 6 and above. For more exciting opportunities, visit our Digital Learning website.

UK BEBRAS COMPUTATIONAL THINKING CHALLENGE
RST's Computer Science students excelled in the UK Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge, a global competition with over 400,000 UK participants. Focused on computational and logical thinking, it stimulates excitement about computer science. The competition involves problem-solving skills essential for software engineering. RST students, from pre-prep to XX, showed improvement in their second participation. All Computer Science students participated, including selected Year 2 pre-prep students, under the guidance of Mrs Hammerton and Mr DeClerq.

Well done to everyone who took part and congratulations to our ‘Best In School’ winners:

Anita (2) Kits
Melon (F) Inters
Don (E) Seniors
Puk (XX ) Elite Group

We are delighted that 11 students from RST were in the top 10% internationally in their respective age groups and also received a Gold Award Certificate. All gold-awarded students will be invited to compete in the Oxford University Computing Challenge in January next year. We wish you all the best of luck!

Congratulations to the Gold Award winners:

Melon (F Block) - Intermediate Group
Ming (F Block) - Intermediate Group
Micki (F Block) - Intermediate Group
Ryan (F Block) - Intermediate Group
Steve (E Block) - Senior Group
Don (E Block) - Senior Group
Pat (D Block ) - Senior Group
David (D Block ) - Senior Group
Jerryl (D Block ) Senior Group
Tan(D Block) Senior Group
Puk (XX) Elite Group

COMMUNITY OFFER
One of our Christmas Fair sponsors, DK Wow company, is offering a special discount for RST at its beautiful seafood fine dining restaurant, Prod. Please click HERE for more details.

Highlight of the Week

LOY KRATHONG
Earlier this week, RST embraced the festive spirit of Loy Krathong, organising vibrant celebrations that captivated students and staff alike. Traditional Thai music and dance performances filled the air, creating a joyful atmosphere. Students, adorned in beautiful traditional attire, actively participated in crafting, and floating their krathongs, fostering a sense of unity and cultural appreciation.

RSTPA COOKING CLASS
Our RSTPA is excited to announce that the next cooking class will take place on 15^th January from 08:15-10:30 and will be hosted by our Filipino community.

We have a maximum of 24 places, so if you are interested, please reserve your place via QR code / irbis2002@bk.ru / Line: Helen Cool / 0907694661.

There will be a small fee of 300THB per session to cover the costs of ingredients and you will need to bring some empty containers to take your food away.

Christmas Fair

We hope to see lots of you at the RSTPA Christmas Fair this weekend.

When: Saturday, 2^nd Dec, 4-9pm
Where: Wisdom Valley
What: Shopping, food and drinks, Santa's Grotto, musical entertainment, games, rides and a fantastic raffle
Why: To raise money for charity

Proceeds from the event will go to two wonderful charities that bring hope to young lives: Take Care Kids is a non-profit organisation that focuses on improving the lives of underprivileged children in Thailand by providing them with education, shelter, and healthcare.

ChonBuri Hospital is a leading government centre for learning and cancer research. There are currently around 180 children with chronic illnesses and in critical conditions who are receiving care from the hospital.

For more information on our charity partners, the entertainment schedule and the raffle prizes, visit our Facebook event page: https://fb.me/e/4iCHD1stB

SPONSORS
Courtyard by Marriott have kindly contributed some excellent raffle prizes for the fair tomorrow! You could win 1 x night stay in a Superior room, including breakfast (for 2 adults and 2 kids), or one of 3 x 5000 THB vouchers.

Ramayana Water Park is a firm favourite amongst staff and students alike. This awesome waterpark has very generously sponsored our Christmas Fair once again this year - thank you Ramayana!

MATYS Pattaya is another kind sponsor behind our Christmas Fair. Thank you!

Casa Pascal restaurant has given lots of vouchers for people to win in the Christmas Fair raffle tomorrow. Thank you for contributing these wonderful prizes... we wonder who the lucky winners will be?

The Renaissance Pattaya has kindly sponsored the fair and contributed some fabulous raffle prizes - 2 vouchers, each for a night's stay in Deluxe Balcony room with breakfast, for two people.

For the sports fanatics in our community, our sponsors at Seara have donated a fantastic high-tech C-21X spinning bike for the raffle. Thank you Seara!

Senior

Announcements

F BLOCK PATHWAYS
F Block Pathways event will take place on Friday, 19^th January at 3:30pm. This is a chance for F Block parents to come into School and find out more about IGCSE options.

CHRISTMAS PATISSERIE, ANYONE?
Indulge in the world of Christmas patisserie! Perfect for aspiring culinary enthusiasts or budding chefs interested in hospitality courses. Le Cordon Bleu cordially invites you to join our virtual open house in December – free of charge. Details are as follows:

Date: 12^th December 2023
Time: 3:00 pm GMT (London Time)
Theme: Patisserie
Format: Online livestream

Don't miss out—compulsory registration is required. Secure your spot by registering here.

Reminders

MOCK EXAMS
Mock exams for D Block and LXX will be held early next term. D Block mock exams run from Friday, 5^th January to Friday, 12^th January.

LXX mock exams will run from Friday, 5^th January to Wednesday, 10^th January.

SCHOOL REPORTS
Reports for F, E, D and XX are out today.

Highlights of the Week

BLOOD BROTHERS
RST's rendition of "Blood Brothers" was a poignant and compelling theatrical experience, where students delivered powerful performances that evoked a range of emotions. The production showcased the School's commitment to exploring complex themes through engaging storytelling, leaving a lasting impact on both the cast and the audience. The dedication and talent exhibited by the students reflected the vibrant arts culture at RST.

Cast 1

BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS
This term has been a busy one for the Business and Economics department, with the Wharton College Investment team making their first trade as part of the worldwide competition, the ever-popular tuck shop starting up again and weeks of preparation for the business student stalls at the RSTPA Christmas fair this weekend. All good fun and students have enjoyed putting their business skills to the test!

COMPUTER SCIENCE WORKSHOP
In an impactful collaboration, CMKL University, a partnership between Carnegie Mellon University and King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, introduced cutting-edge computer science to Rugby School Thailand. Spearheaded by Mrs Claire Cecil, Stuart Markes, and Mrs Jane Hammerton, this partnership with the 24th-ranked university in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings offered students valuable insights into image manipulation and algorithmic applications.

The dynamic workshop, led by CMKL's expertise and a PhD student from Carnegie Mellon, showcased real-world computer science applications, fostering future collaborations between academia and innovation at Rugby School Thailand. For more information, visit CMKL University's Computer Science Programme website.

Reminders

END OF TERM HOUSE MATCHES
You are warmly invited to attend the following House Matches:

ANTI-BULLYING FORUM
Please find a link to the slides for the anti-bullying forum we ran last week, here

Dates for your Diary

2^nd DECEMBER:
08:45-10:00 Session 1 of the Saturday Enrichment Programme (SEP) - Sign-up on SOCS
10:15-11:45 Session 2 SEP
16:00-21:00: RSTPA Christmas Fair at Wisdom Valley
U9 & U11 BISA Netball Tournament

4^th DECEMBER: Y7 & 8 AES Exhibition

5^th DECEMBER: School Closed for Thai Public Holiday

7^th DECEMBER:
AM: Y3&4 AES Exhibition
PM: Y5&6 AES Exhibition

8^th DECEMBER:
Christmas Outfit Day - Students may come to School in Christmas-themed clothing. 100 THB donation to go towards our School charities.
15:30: End of Term

4^th JANUARY: Back to School

Highlights of the Week

ADVENTURE EXPLORE SURVIVE (AES)
Our Adventure Explore Survive (AES) students, focusing on Mapping, Hiking, and Water Filter badges, engaged in diverse activities. Year 3 and 4 AES students mastered map orientation during a 2 km scavenger hunt. Older students hiked, refining map-reading skills and building confidence. Water filter construction, using bushcraft and recycled bottles, showcased effective purification techniques. As the term concludes, anticipation builds for December's Adventure hikes, promising forest exploration, group navigation and self-cooked lunches.

They have been studying the work of Canadian artist, Sandra Silberzweig, and have created portraits using chalk and oil pastels.

We’re so impressed with their work!

YEAR 6 PRODUCTION
RST's captivating production of "Moana" brought the enchanting tale to life with vibrant performances, stunning visuals, and a talented cast. The students' dedication and creativity transformed the stage into an immersive journey, captivating audiences and showcasing the School's commitment to artistic excellence.

Pre-Prep

Announcements

STORIES IN LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH
We are looking to add books to our library that are in languages other than English. These are not always easy to find in Thailand. If you have any other language books at home that you do not use or are willing to add to our library, please bring them to the office.

Children need to have a good foundation in their native language to be able to successfully learn a second language. Therefore, having access to books in their own language is important. Books are also meant for sharing, and our parents reading to the children in their native languages is something that we set up last term. Our next date for this is 16^th February 2024.

LIBRARY BOOKS
A reminder that this week is the last week to take books home from the library. Next week, students will still visit the library but will not be able to take books home. Library books can be returned in the usual weekly lesson.

For those of you with library lessons on Tuesday next week (a holiday), please return your book to your class teacher, who will make sure it gets returned to the library. Thank you.

Reminders

Dates for Your Diary

4^th DECEMBER: Father's Day breakfast - one adult to join their child for breakfast and Wake and Shake 8:00-8:45am

5^th DECEMBER: Public Holiday - School closed

6^th DECEMBER: Year 2 Show - 9am

7^th DECEMBER: Christmas Lunch (normal clothes). School Reports will be available on ISAMS by 5pm

8^th DECEMBER:
Christmas Party Day and Christmas clothes day- with 100THB donation going to charity.

School finishes at 3:15pm

Highlights of the Week

CHRISTMAS ART
It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Pre-Prep. Our children and teachers are being creative, creating amazing Christmas art and decorations.

RECEPTION
As part of their topic, Where Does It Come From? Reception have been Exploring Eagles and enjoyed finding their way around the eco garden. There we learnt about how to care for different plants and animals and even discovered where eggs come from!

Useful Links

Learner Profiles

Enrichment and Sport

Sport

RUGBY
Last weekend was filled with exciting rugby matches, as teams from under 10 to under 16 competed with great spirit and enthusiasm against Bangkok Lions Rugby Club.

The under-10 team displayed their developing rugby skills by engaging in proper rugby plays. Their teamwork and determination was noticeable, and the young players displayed promising talent on the pitch, laying the groundwork for an exciting future in the sport.

The under-12 team performed a rugby masterclass. Their performance was nothing short of spectacular, as they dominated the game, ending with a winning score of 60-0.

The under-14 team encountered formidable opponents, facing an excellent rival. Despite the tough competition, our under-14 players showcased determination and skill, scoring spectacular tries that underscored their exceptional abilities.

The under-16 team encountered challenges with a shortage of players. Despite being outnumbered, these young athletes played with heart and determination. Their performance not only showcased a solid grasp of the game but also highlighted the significant growth observed during the first term of rugby.

We are very excited about the fixtures that are coming in the second term and for the children to be able to develop their rugby skills.

Enrichment

JUNIOR SPORTS LEADERS
Our Junior Sports Leaders played a crucial role during lunch breaks this week by delivering their planned sessions for the Year 2 students. Their emphasis on teamwork and collaboration was evident as they worked seamlessly together to ensure the success of these sessions. Thoughtful planning and execution created a welcoming and inclusive environment for the Year 2s to participate and enjoy.

Serving as both coaches and mentors, the Junior Sports Leaders fostered a spirit of cooperation among the young participants. The effective teamwork among the Junior Sports Leaders contributed to the positive atmosphere that extended to the Year 2 students. This initiative not only sparked an interest in sports but also played a vital role in developing essential teamwork and collaboration skills among all participants.

Boarding News

There is so much going on for our boarders at the moment, it's far too much to mention, from inter-house competitions, pizza making, sport and everything in between. Our boarders have a full and varied life here at School and with our annual Boarding Christmas Party at Wisdom Valley to look forward to, this really will be a super finish to a very positive term indeed.

If you would like to find out more about boarding opportunities for your child, please contact the Director of Boarding - dennisbilling@rugbyschool.ac.th

Follow us on Instagram at boarding_rugbyschoolthailand